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Steve L
Mar-30-2004, 7:18am
I think this is a stunning looking instrument. #Anyone familiar with this builder?

plunktone
Mar-30-2004, 10:19am
Hi. I was struck by this instrument too, so I did some searching. Afraid we won't see anymore of these, since the builder died in 1949. Apparently, he (disputedly) invented the zither banjo and was best known as a classical banjo player and composer. Here's some info from http://www.classicbanjo.com

Alfred D. Cammeyer (1862-1949)
Alfred D. Cammeyer, originally from Brooklyn, NY, moved to London in 1888, and remained in England for the rest of his life. His compositions have a refined quality about them, featuring long, lyrical phrases and gentle rhythms not usually associated with the banjo. One other unusual feature of Cammeyer's compositions are the piano accompaniments, which support the banjo with eloquent harmonies and clever exchanges of the melody. Much of Cammeyer's music was intended for an instrument of his own invention, the zither banjo. This closed-back variant of the regular banjo had five strings, with the first, second and fifth strings being made of steel and the third and fourth of gut. Zither banjos had a more sustained, ringing tone than their open-back counterparts.

-jamie

Jim M.
Mar-30-2004, 10:53am
Wow, that's interesting. I thought it was just a misspelling of Kammerer. Check out this guitar:

Kammerer guitars (http://www.jonkammererguitars.com/detail.php?recordID=62&rowNum=0)

The body shaping strikes me as quite similar.